Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings - November 7, 2013
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 7, 2013
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 10:31 a.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 12-13.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bellemare, Chaput, Eaton, Enverga, Ogilvie, Seidman and Seth (7).
In attendance: Sonya Norris, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 12-13, the clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That Senator Ogilvie do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Ogilvie took the chair.
The Honourable Senator Seidman moved that:
That Senator Eggleton, P.C., be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Eaton moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair and one other member of the committee, to be designated after the usual consultation: and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and to schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Enverga moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Seidman moved:
That, pursuant to rule 12-17, the chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the publication of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a member of the committee from both the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Seth moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 12-26(2).
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Seidman moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills, and estimates as are referred to it;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
That the chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries, and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That, pursuant to section 7, chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee;
That, pursuant to section 8, chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee; and
That, notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases related to consultants and personnel services, the authority to commit funds and certify accounts be conferred jointly on the chair and deputy chair.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Enverga moved:
That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Seidman moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the committee is on ``official business'' for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
2) consider any member of the committee to be on ``official business'' if that member is: (a) attending an event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee; and
That the subcommittee report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the committee travelling on committee business.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Seth moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the chair be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the committee in the development of communication plans where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications Directorate for the purpose of their development and implementation; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair noted that the time slots for regular meetings are Wednesdays (4:15 — 6:15 p.m.) and Thursdays (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).
It was agreed that each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
It was agreed that the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on prescription pharmaceuticals in Canada, including but not limited to:
(a) the process to approve prescription pharmaceuticals with a particular focus on clinical trials;
(b) the post-approval monitoring of prescription pharmaceuticals;
(c) the off-label use of prescription pharmaceuticals; and
(d) the nature of unintended consequences in the use of prescription pharmaceuticals.
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject during the First Session of the Forty-First Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than December 31, 2014 and that the committee retain until March 31, 2015, all powers necessary to publicize its findings.
At 10:48 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Jessica Richardson
Clerk of the Committee